Stacker for slicing machines



Feb. 23 ,1 192s.

c. F. M`. VAN BERKEL STACKER FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed May 15. 1924 5Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 23 192e. 1,513,953 c. F. M. VAN BERKEL l STACKBR FORSLICING MACHINES Filed nay 15. 1?24 1 5 sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 23 1926. v1,573,953 f C. F. M. VAN BERKEL n STACKER FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed May15, E24 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 23 19,26. 1,573,953

C. F. M. VAN vBERKEL I S'IIAGKER FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed May 15. 15245 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 23, 1926.

c. F. M. VAN BERKEL STACKER FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed May 15. 1924' `5Sheets-Sheet 5 Kg Wmv Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

` UNillT EDI STATE S PATENT OFF ICE CORNELIS FRANCISCUS MARIA VANBERKEL, OFA ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, AS- SIGNORTO U. S. SLICING MACHINECOMPANY, OF LA` PORTE, INDIANA, A COR- ronATIon or INDIANA.

STACKER FOR SLICING LIACHINES.

Application filed May 15, 1924.

To @ZZ/whom# may conc/ern:

Bezit.r known that I, ConNnLrs F. M. van Biennial., a subject of theQueen of the Netherlands, residing at Rotterdam, Netherlands. haveinventcdvcertain new and useful Improvements in Stackers for{ilicingMachines, of which the following is a specification.`

This invention relates to apparatus for use `in` connecti on with.machines for slicing` meat'andsimilar commodities and has for itsobject! the provision of a slicestacker which shallbe ofimprovedconstruction and which shall operate compa st-iveljv noiselesslv andwith` niinimuin consumption of power. Y f

Other.- objects will i appear hereinafter.

The invention is exemplilied in the combination and'arrangement Vofparts shown in the accompanying drawings and describedinthe-followingspeciiication, and it is more particularly pointed out,in the appended claims. 1

In the drawings- F ig'. v1 is a vertical sectional view of aportion of aslicing machine having one em- Vbodiment ofthe present inventionappliedthereto;

Fig. 2 is afront elevation of the mechanisnishownin Fig. l;

Fig.` 3 is a topplan view ofa portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary horizontal section showing` the gearconnectionbetween the reciprocating table and the slice conveyor;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a slice conveyer showing a modifiedform of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a section substantially on line c-c er Fig.L 5;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section substantially on line 7 7 of Fig. 5,;

Fig. 8 isa top plan view of a portion of a slicing machine showing amodified form of the, invention;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8 ;V

Figs. 10 and 1l are views similar to Figs.

8 and 9, respectively, showing a further modification; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentar.)Y detail showing a portion of the operatingmechanism of Fig. 10 in a different position.

Referring first to Figs. l to 4, inclusive,

Serial No. 713,396.

naled in the frame 20. The upper end of the stud shaft 24 has a plate 25iixed thereto provided with a pawl QG pivoted thereon. The pawlQG`meshes with a ratchet wheel`27 carriedb57 the lower end of a driveshaft 9.8 which is inaxial alineinent` with the stud 2st but'disconnected therefrom.

and meshing with a rack 30 guided by slide bars 3l supportedon the frameQ0, as shown inliigs. 2 and 3.

The gear 29 has a projecting ear 82 which c: rries a pawl 33 engaging aratchet 34CA on theshaft 28. The ,rack o0 is reciprocated by aniarm 35pivoted to swingiabout a center 36 on the main frame l5. is providedwith a cam loop 37 which en gages a roller 38 on a crank arm 39. The arm39 is carried on a shaft 4t() which is journaled inthe main frame of themachine anddriven by a gear stl which meshes with a gear 4t2 on acounterrshaft 4?. The counter-shaft llis provided with a gear it meshingwith a pinionli on the main drive shaft 46. inthe manner shown inlatentNo. 1,376,775, granted to A. R. Luschka et al., May 3, 1921.

A guide frame having upper and lower mei'i'ibers 11i-7 and Zi8 issupported on` the bracket 2O and receives a series of rollers 49 and .i50, respectively, of a slice conveyer` chain, the construction beingsomewhat. sim- The` shaft 28 has a mutilated gear 29 secured thereto Thearm 35 1 upper. and lower chains 5l and wvhich are connected by uprightbars carrying sliceengaging prongs 54. The present inventiondiffers-from the prior patents referred to in that the chains 5l and 5:2are endless chains andare driven by sprocket wheels 5:3 and 5C carriedon the shaft 2S. The sprocket wheels 55 and 56 engage the upright bars53 for imparting movement to the shaft 28. In the patents referred tothe movement of the conveyer chain is a reciprocating one, but in thepresent invention intermittent movement always in one direction isimparted to the endless chain. This avoids the noise and wear incidentto arresting the movement of the chain and exerting a force in theopposite direction to reverse the movement. It also avoids the loss ofpower incident to returning the chain to its initial position forreceiving a new slice. A further advantage is that the force foroperating the chain is equally eective at the top and bottom of theconveyer so that there is no binding in the guides for the rollers 50. f

In operation, during the forward movement of the table 16 the chain isdriven -in unison with the table through the gears 18, 21, 22 and 23 andthe ratchet wheel'27. As the table 16- approaches the end of its cuttingstroke and after the slice has been severed the crank arm 39 imparts aforward movement to the rack 39 through the arm and cam 37. The rotationof the gear 29 by the rack 30 transmits an accelerated motion to theshaft 28 so that the slice conveyer continues to move at an acceleratedrate after the slice has been severed to carry the slice around theend'of the conveyer and into a flat position at the Vfront of the con- Vveyer adjacent the, discharge fiy 57. During this accelerated motion thepawl 26 will overrun the ratchet 27. The cam B7 is shaped to continuethe accelerated movement ofthe conveyer chain during a portion of thereturn stroke ofthe table-16, the motion ofthe chain ybeing sufficientto lbring the slice into position to be discharged by the y 57. Thechain is given a period ofY rest during the latter portion of the returnstroke-.of the table 16at which time the vdischarge fly is operated todischarge the slice from the conveyer in the manner described inconnection with the prior patents referred to. The reverse movement ofthe table 16 and rack 30 does not affect the position of the conveyer sothat the conveyer remains in its advanced position until forwardmovement is again imparted thereto during the succeeding slicingoperation.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 an operating arm58- is pivoted to the reciprocating table 16 and iscontrolled by a camgroove 59, the movement of the arm 58 being similar to `that of the `arm27 in my prior patent referred to above. In the present invention,however, an endless slice conveyer is provided having upright bars 60sliding in frame members 61 and 62. The arm 58 is pivoted at 63 'to anupright bar 64E slidably mounted in grooves in the plates 61 and 62. Thebar 64 is provided with a bracket 65 which carries a spring-pressed pawl66 free to yield in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7 but heldagainst movement in the opposite direction by a tailpiece 68. It will beseen that when the bar 64 is drawn forwardly by the arm 58 during theslicing movement of the table 16 thepawl 66 will engage one of theupright bars 6() and carry the conveyer forwardly with the samecharacter of n'iovement imparted to it in the prior patents referred to.0n the reverse movement of the table, however, the conveyer will remainstationary and the pawl 66 will ratchet backwardly over the bars 60 sothat intermittent movementV in one direction only is imparted to theconveyer. It will be apparent that in place of engaging'the bars 60 theconveyer could be provided with special contact members for the pawl 66properly spaced so that"v the pawl need not engage all of the bars 60 onits return movement. This arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 10 Wherethe conveyer is given a movement equal to one-third of its length ateach operation of the Yreciprocating table and three contact rods are.

provided for the actuating pawl. The contact rods extend in a straightline between the grooves in the guide plates 61 and 62 and cam plate 70is pivotally mounted at 71V on the base frame 15. The cam plate 70 isprovided with a slot 72 which receives the downwardly'projecting end ofay pin 7 3 carried on the table 16. A rack segment y '74 engages apinion 75 having a one-way driving connection lwith the shaft V28. Asthe table moves forwardly the pin 7 3 will travel in the straightportion ofthe slot 72 and imparts a movement to the slice conveyer inunison with the movement of the table. After the slice has been severedthe pin 72 will reach an offset portion 76 in the slot. 72 and impart anaccelerated movement tothe conveyer to carry the slice around the end ofthe conveyer frame to the front and in position to be discharged by thefly. This kwill bring the extreme portion of the slot 72 into a lineparallel with the movement of the pin 7 3 so that the conveyer willremain stationary at the time that the iiy is operated. Y

In the forms ofthe invention shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 the conveyerchain is provid-ed with a series of spaced contact bars 8O which areengaged byV a pawl 81 carried by a horizontal arm 82 pivoted at 83 onthe table 16. The `pawl 81 is free to yield to the contact bars 80, asshown in Vframe l and receives a pin 85 projecting downwardly from theend of the arm 82. The arm 82 may be formed 111 two parts connected tothe pivot shaft 83 so as to Y provide for thel relative verticaldisplacement of the two parts of the arm. As previously explained, thecontact rods S0 are spacedA outwardly from the conveyer bars so that thepawl 81 will engage only the contact rods. These rods are spaced apartonthe conveyer chain a sufficient distance to, impart the necessarymovement of the chain for conveying the slices to discharge position. Anaccelerated movement is given to the chain at the'end of the slicingoperation by a curved portion 86 in the cam groove. S4.. This willrotate the arm 82 upon: its pivot 83 andproject the pawl Sl away. fromthe table 1G so as to follow the contact rod vS0` in its movement aboutthe `center shaft 28 of the slice conveyer.

Y with a slicing knife, of a conveyer for transferring slices away fromsaid knife,

and means for imparting movement to said conveyer in one direction only.

3. In a slicing machine, a slicing knife, a conveyerfor transferringslices away from said knife, means for imparting intermit- Atentmov-ement to said conveyer in one direction only, and means for feedingmaterial to said knife for slicing a separate slice therefrom for eachmovementl of said conveyer.

4. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of anendless conveyer for transferring slices away from said knife, and meansfor imparting intermittent movementV to said conveyer in one directiononly. 'i

5. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of meansfor periodically presenting material to said knife to b e sliced,anendless conveyer for transferring slices away from said knife, andlmeansv for driving said conveyer in `one direction only, said drivingmeans operating intermittently in timed relation with said materialpresenting means.

6. The combination with a slicing knife, of a conveyer frame adjacentsaid knife, an

endless conveyer arranged to travel on said frame, and means for movinga different portion of said conveyer adjacent said knife duringsuccessive slicing operations to transferI slices away from said knife.

7. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of anendless conveyer arranged adjacent said knife with the runs thereofsulistantially parallel to one another, means for periodically feedingmaterial to said knife to be sliced, and means operating in timedrelation with said feeding means for imparting intermittent movement tosaid conveyer in one direction only.

S. The combination with a slicing niachine having a. reciprocatingtable, of a conveyer for receiving slices from said machine, and aone-way drive for actuating said conveyer in timed relation with thereciprocation of said table.

9. rIlhe combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife, areciprocating table for feeding material to said knife, a one-way drivefor imparting movement to said conveyer in timed relation with thereciproation of said table, and a. second 'one-way drive foradditionally operating said conveyer in the same direction in which itis moved by said tiret-mentioned drive.

l0. The combination with a slicing machine having a reciprocating table,a slicing knife, a conveyer for receiving slices 4from said knife, and aone-way drive actuated by said table during movement thereof in onedirection for imparting movement to said conveyer but permitting returnmovement of said table wit-bont affecting said conveyer.

l1. The combination with a slicing machine having a reciprocating tableand a slicing knife, of a conveyer for receiving slices formed by saidknife, a one-way drive for imparting movement to said conveyer duringfeeding movement of said table but permitting return movement of saidtable without affecting said conveyer, and a second one-way drive forimparting accelerated movement to said conveyer in the same direction inwhich it is moved by said first-mentioned one-way drive.

l2. In a slicing machine, a slicing' knife, an endless conveyer forreceiving slices from said knife, a reciprocating table for feedingslices to said knife, a sprocket wheel for operating said conveyer, anda one-way drive for actuating said sprocket wheel in timed relation withthe movement of said table.

13. The combination with a slicing inachine having a slicing knife, alreciprocating table for feeding material to said knife, a rack movablewith said table, an endless conveyer for receiving slices from saidknife, gearing actuated by said rack, and ratchet mechanism operated bysaid gearing for imparting a reciprocating movement to said conveyer inone direction only.

14. The combination With a slicing inachine having a slicing knife and areciprocating table, o-f an endless conveyer for receiving slices fromsaid knife, a shaft having sprockets thereon for driving said con.-v'eyer, ratchet mechanism actuated by said table during movement in onedire-ction thereof for rotating said shaft, and additional ratchetmechanism for imparting Van accelerated movement to said shaft in thesame direction as the movement imparted thereto .by said first-mentionedlatchet mechanism. Y l

15. The combination with a slicing inalchine having a. slicing knife, areciprocating table for feeding slices to said knife', and driving meansfor said table and said knife, of a conveyer for receiving slices fromsaid knife, a one-Way drive operated byy said table for actuating saidconveyer during feeding movement of said table, and a second one-Waydrive actuated by said driving means for said knife and table impait anaccelerated movement to said conveyer in the same direction as themovement imparted thereto by said reciprocating table.

16. In a slicing machine, a' discharge member, a conveyor for conveyingcut slices to said discharge member, and means for intermittently movingsaid conveyor in onek discharge member, and means for impart-V ingintermittent movement to said conveyor in one direction only, saidconveyor moving in unison with said meat Support during a portion ofeach intermittent movement of said conveyor. f Y

18. InV a slicing machine, a meat support, means for reciprocating saidmeat support, a discharge member, a conveyor for conveying cut slices tosaid discharge member, means for .moving said conveyor intermittentlylin one direction only, in unison with the movement of said meat support,and means for imparting accelerated movement to said conveyor during thelatter portion of each intermittent movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 'name to this specification onthis sixteenth day Vof April A. D. 1924.

CORNELIS FRANCISCUS MARIA van BERKEL.

